If you have small, thread-like veins, these are known as spider veins. They are usually red or blue and are commonly found on the legs. They look disfiguring, although they are not usually a health concern, states www.VeinsVeinsVeins.com

It is believed that genetics play a role in spider vein development. Women have them more often than men. They usually don’t occur when people are young. Spider veins form a bundle spreading out from the center, and they resemble actual spider webs.

Spider veins are not varicose veins. If you have varicose veins, they are pressurized by your blood and protrude on the surface of your skin. Other causes of spider veins are believed to include venous insufficiency and age. Also possibly affecting spider vein development are obesity, alcohol and smoking. In the case of women, the surges of estrogen during pregnancy or use of birth control pills may play some role.

How Are Spider Veins Formed?

These veins develop when smaller, superficial veins close to the surface of your skin leak small amounts of blood. This blood branches into areas of tissue, forming patterns and points of discoloration. They can be treated so that they will fade away and gradually be absorbed back into your body.

Spider veins are not usually considered serious medically, which is not the case with varicose veins. However, they might be indicators of other venous problems like venous insufficiency which may warrant investigation by venous Duplex ultrasonography.

Enough people have spider veins that there are many concealers, serums and creams on the global market, to use in attempting to hide them. Physicians do not usually recommend these products.

Studies have not been done to prove the efficacy of these creams. Some creams use vitamin K before or after sclerotherapy, to help in the fading of the veins. Board Certified vein specialists (phlebologists) do not recommend the use of vitamin K based creams as they promote blood clotting.

Treatment with Sclerotherapy

Your physician or physician assistant performing sclerotherapy will inject the veins with a special solution. This irritates the vein lining and causes the walls of each vein to collapse. In the early years of this treatment mode, there were inconvenient side effects. Today, the compounds are NOT saline-based and the foams also used are very effective. The types of solutions are variable, more expensive than saline and more likely to be effective.

Laser treatments for spider veins are on the increase in the United States. Canadians who seek such treatments can find them in the United States, as well. There may be 12 weeks of healing time after sclerotherapy or laser treatments. They can also cause mild discomfort during laser treatments and and you might need to make repeat visits before the veins are fully faded. Canadian patients are welcome for laser vein treatment at www.VeinGuide.com and www.PeaceBridgeHealthCare.com

Even after treatments, spider veins can return to treated areas. There is no way at the present time to prevent new spider veins from forming, except for horse chestnut based products (Veinamin AM and Veinamin PM) or bioflavonoid based products (Varicosamin) as seen on www.MyVeinStore.com

Since they are a cosmetic issue, spider vein treatments are not normally covered by health insurance policies.

Vein specialists (phlebologists) have stated in the New York Times that in addition to seeing more procedures done on spider veins each year, there has also been an increase in locations where the procedures are performed. Where they were once done in special clinics and hospitals, the treatments for spider veins can now be done in clinics and centers where access to a laser is all that is needed. However, Board Certified Phlebologists have expertise and provide the best laser devices and treatments for spider and reticular veins.

If you decide to have treatments for your spider veins, be sure that you find a reputable clinic or Board Certified phlebologist to perform them. You do not want to risk using a person who has not been properly trained to perform the procedures done for spider veins.

About VeinGuide.com
We currently have two offices to serve you in Los Angeles. The main office currently provides comprehensive plastic surgery services and contains a fully-accredited AAAHC certified surgical suite that is equipped to perform surgical procedures under general anesthesia or conscious sedation. All complex cases are.